Hero Academy — Main Courtyard
Ryan walked alongside Ethan Stormbreak and Ryu Nox through the shining marble corridors of Hero Academy. The sun gleamed overhead, and the entire campus buzzed with life — laughter, chatter, and the boundless energy of aspiring heroes.
Then came the sneer.
"Oh, look who it is — the kid with no aura," said Kane Jayson, swaggering up with a gang of cocky classmates. "Stormbreak, Nox — why are you hanging out with him? He's just dead weight."
Ethan crossed his arms, unamused.
"I hang out with whoever I want, Kane. And that 'kid with no aura' happens to be my friend. Next time you insult him, not even your crimson reflection will save you from me."
Ryu smirked.
"Oooh! Cosmic burn."
Ryan, embarrassed, tried to defuse the tension.
"It's fine, Ethan. Not worth it."
Kane's grin faltered, replaced by malice.
"Oh, really? Playing bodyguard for the janitor's son now? Didn't you all know — Ryan's mom cleans my house."
Ethan's jaw clenched. He stepped forward, eyes cold.
"You're pathetic, Kane. Let's go, guys. Trash isn't worth our time."
They left him fuming in the courtyard.
Classroom — Later
The girls in the back row whispered behind their notebooks.
"So, who's the cutest guy in class?"
"Kane's pretty hot… and Ethan too!"
"Ryu's a total dreamboat!"
The prettiest among them, Annie, smiled softly.
"I think Ryan's actually really handsome."
The others gasped.
"The aura-less guy?"
"Gross…"
Ryu nudged Ryan from across the room, whispering,
"Dude. The blonde's totally staring at you. Go talk to her."
Ryan's face turned crimson.
"Annie? No way… she'd never— I'd just get rejected."
Ethan grinned.
"You already have a 'no'. All you need now is confirmation."
Lunch Break
Ryan sat alone on a bench, watching the sky. A cool shadow fell over him — then something cold pressed against his forehead.
"Hey there. You okay?"
It was Annie, smiling and holding out a drink.
Ryan nearly dropped it.
"O-oh! You scared me. I'm fine… and you?"
"I'm great. You're Ryan, right?"
"Yeah. And you're… Annie."
They talked for a while. Her presence was disarming, curious but kind. Then she asked,
"I keep hearing people call you 'no aura'. Why?"
Ryan sighed.
"Because I was born without one. No powers, no spark. Nothing."
"Then… why are you here? At Hero Academy? Do you really think you can pass the Draft?"
Ryan gazed at the clouds, voice calm but resolute.
"It's not aura that defines a hero. Even if I wasn't born a prodigy, even if I have to work twice as hard… I won't give up. I have a dream — and for that dream, I'll break every limit and make the impossible real. I will become a hero. You can write that down."
Annie smiled, visibly moved.
"Noted," she said, pulling out her phone. "Mind giving me your number?"
Ryan froze. Then, grinning shyly, he handed it over.
From Afar
Behind a tree, Ethan and Ryu watched like conspirators.
"Well? Did it work?" Ryu whispered.
"Smooth, Ryan," Ethan teased. "Never seen you like that."
"We just talked and—"
"And?"
"She gave me her number."
They screamed like soccer fans celebrating a goal.
On the Way Home
That evening, Annie walked home alone. Her street was quiet — until three masked men appeared from the shadows.
"Evening, sweetheart. Hand it over."
Ryan appeared out of nowhere, standing between her and the men.
"Give her back what's hers… or you'll regret it."
One thug laughed.
"This one's got no aura. Easy pickings!"
The first lunged — Ryan sidestepped and countered, dropping him flat.
The second swung a metal bar; Ryan ducked, spun, and kicked hard.
The third was tougher — he grappled Ryan, but Ryan twisted free and slammed him into a wall.
Panting, blood on his lip, Ryan turned to Annie.
"You okay?"
She stared, stunned.
"I… I'm fine. You— you saved me."
Pharmacy and Park
At a nearby pharmacy, Annie cleaned his wounds.
"You fight… really well. I didn't expect that."
"I've trained since I was a kid," Ryan said simply.
Later, they sat in the park beneath the soft rustle of trees. The city lights shimmered beyond.
"Thank you, Ryan," Annie said quietly.
"For what?"
"For saving me. You're my hero now."
Ryan blushed.
"Ha— what?"
She laughed.
"Relax. I'm joking."
But her smile lingered. And so did his.
He insisted on walking her home. When they reached her street, Ryan stopped short. A grand mansion loomed before them, elegant and distant.
He thought to himself, If she ever had feelings for me… could she ever accept someone like me?
He smiled faintly.
"She's just a friend," he murmured, before turning away — the spark in his eyes brighter than ever.